Page 50 of Sachie's Hero

Yet, he knew if he didn’t take her, she’d find her own way there. What chance did a lone female counselor have against a rabid gang of bikers who might be either drunk or high on illicit drugs...or both?

“You know bikers don’t necessarily hang out all day at their favorite bar. They’re like vampires and come out at night,” Teller said.

Sachie cocked an eyebrow and stared across the console at Teller. “And you know this because you’ve frequented biker bars?”

“Not necessarily,” he said. “However, going inlooking like a highly educated cream puff will flag you before you even cross the threshold.”

Sachie’s lips twitched. “What are you saying? I need to look more like a badass than a cream puff?”

“Actually, yes.” He cast a glance her way as they drove away from Candice’s sad house in the middle of an equally sad neighborhood of homes with peeling paint and sagging roofs. Even the houses looked like they’d lost hope. He hadn’t liked the smell of Candice’s home, but even more, he hadn’t liked that anyone was so far down they’d live in a place like that. The woman needed mental help as well as a bulldozer to clean the place.

He handed her his cell phone. “Text George Ingram the following: Need 6, 22:00, Leather & Chains, dress code advised.” His lips twitched, knowing what George’s reaction would be.

Two seconds after Sachie hit send, his phone vibrated.

“You can answer,” Teller said. “Put it on speaker.”

“Yo, Osgood.”

“Ingram,” Teller acknowledged.

“Could you be more cryptic?” His friend and teammate always got straight to the point.

Teller chuckled. “My client and I need backup tonight at a motorcycle club.”

“A single operative kind of backup or a potential team convergence bailout?”

“Hard to say. I’d lean toward team convergence. The guy we’re going in to question is a recent prison release. My client helped convict him of child abuse. He’s also not averse to beating women, as his first stop post-prison was at his ex-girlfriend's place. He put her in the hospital. We assume his MC associates are equally pleasant.”

“Gotcha,” George said. “And by dress code, I assume you want us to blend in.”

“We’d like to at least make it through the door,” Teller said.

“I assume the client you’re taking is Ms. Moore.”

“News travels fast,” Teller observed.

“Hawk gave us the heads-up in case you needed support,” George explained. “You sure you want to take Ms. Moore into the middle of what sounds like a dangerous motorcycle gang? Is this something we can do without exposing her to the risk?”

“I’m going,” Sachie said, with a stubborn set to her chin. “With or without the Brotherhood Protectors.”

As Teller had predicted. That’s part of the reason I wanted to get some additional insurance. We think the guy we’re going after might be the one who has been at the root of her problems.”

“Why not let the police handle it?” George asked.

Teller cocked an eyebrow in Sachie’s direction.

“I’ve worked with the Honolulu and Hawaii police in the past. Sometimes, word leaks out to the wrong people,” Sachie said. “I don’t want anyone warning Finkel before I get some answers from him. Since we’re not going to the bar until late tonight, I have some other places and people I want to check. It might change our direction.”

“We just want the team ready if we have to go to Leather & Chains tonight,” Teller added.

“On it,” George said. “I’ll rally the troops and wait on standby for the go-ahead.”

“Roger,” Teller said. “Out here.”

“Out here,” George echoed and ended the call.

“Where are we going next?” he asked.

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